RV Maintenance
RV maintenance basics
Follow the maintenance schedules for your RV and its installed equipment, including the chassis, appliances, tires, and axles. Set intervals according to mileage and operating conditions, and account for climate and storage. When general advice conflicts with a manufacturer’s manual, follow the manual for the specific RV or component.
Inspect the RV regularly to find leaks, worn parts, and loose connections before they cause larger repairs. Check the roof, seams, windows, slide-outs, and exterior compartments for cracked sealant, damaged seals, or signs of water entry. Water can damage wall panels, flooring, insulation, and structural materials.
Use cleaners and sealants approved for the roof, siding, seals, and other materials. The wrong product can damage a surface or weaken the seal that keeps water out.
Prepare the RV before extended storage. Clean and dry the interior and exterior. Protect the batteries, empty tanks as directed, and close the propane supply. Winterize the plumbing before freezing weather by draining it and protecting it as the RV and appliance manuals direct. Storage steps depend on the RV’s equipment, local weather, and whether it is stored indoors or outdoors.
Keep the owner’s manual and appliance manuals with the maintenance log, inspection notes, and repair receipts. Record service dates, mileage or operating hours, work completed, and defects found. Photos of seals, stains, and suspected leaks help track changes and support a technician’s diagnosis.
Address known leaks and damaged seals promptly. Use a qualified RV technician when a repair exceeds your skills or the manual’s instructions.
Set an RV service schedule
Build the schedule from the manuals for the RV, chassis, axle, tires, and installed equipment. Service intervals vary by component. Mileage and operating conditions affect them, as do climate and storage time. General schedules work best as reminders to consult the instructions for your specific equipment.
| When | Checks and service | Source to consult |
|---|---|---|
| Before each trip | Tire condition and cold inflation pressure; lights; mirrors; hitch or coupling; safety chains; trailer electrical connection; secured cargo, doors, awnings, steps, and slide-outs | RV tire placard, RV and tow-vehicle manuals, hitch instructions |
| Monthly or during active use | Check for leaks, damaged hoses, loose clamps, failing sealant, battery corrosion, unusual tire wear, and debris around slide-outs; maintain the generator as directed | RV, battery, generator, and slide-mechanism manuals |
| Before seasonal storage or freezing weather | Clean and dry the RV; protect batteries, plumbing, tanks, and appliances for expected storage conditions | RV and appliance manuals |
| At the listed mileage or annual interval | Complete required brake, bearing, suspension, fluid, filter, and generator service | Chassis, axle, and component schedules |
Before each trip
Set tire pressure when the tires are cold. Use the RV tire placard or the tire manufacturer’s load-and-inflation guidance for the load each tire carries. Inspect the tires for damage and uneven wear.
Check the wheels and visible lug nuts. Also inspect the lights, mirrors, hitch or coupling, safety chains, and electrical connection between the trailer and tow vehicle. Before travel, secure cargo and stow the doors, awnings, steps, and slide-outs. Follow the specified wheel-fastener torque and recheck procedure. A visual inspection of a lug nut does not confirm that it meets the required torque.
During regular use
Look for damp spots and musty odors. Check sealant for cracks or looseness, and inspect hoses for damage. Also check clamps for looseness and the battery for corrosion. Watch for changing tire wear and debris around slide mechanisms. Repair leaks promptly.
Fill the freshwater tank with a clean hose intended for drinking water. Sanitize the freshwater system as the RV manual directs, especially after storage or suspected contamination. Run and maintain the generator according to its manual. Follow the required exercise schedule and load requirements. Clean or lubricate slide mechanisms only with products and methods approved for that mechanism.
At annual service
Check the RV, chassis, axle, generator, and appliance schedules because calendar-based and mileage-based intervals differ. Dexter’s trailer maintenance schedule lists separate intervals for trailer brakes and bearings, as well as suspension and tires. Follow the instructions for your axle and bearings rather than applying one bearing-service interval to every trailer.
Arrange qualified service for work that requires lifting the RV, opening sealed components, or servicing brakes and other safety-critical equipment. Record the date, mileage or operating hours, inspection findings, replacement parts, and completed work. These records help identify recurring problems and plan future service.
Winterize before freezing weather. Follow the RV and appliance manuals for draining, bypassing, and protecting plumbing components and appliances.
Common maintenance decisions
Do all trailer bearings need service at the same interval? No. Follow the axle or bearing manufacturer’s schedule. Dexter lists different intervals for different trailer components.
Can a visual check confirm that wheel fasteners are tight? No. Use the torque specification and recheck procedure from the RV, wheel, or chassis manufacturer.
When should plumbing be winterized? Winterize before freezing conditions arrive, using the protection steps in the RV and appliance manuals.
Inspect RV tires and running gear
The RV relies on its tires, wheels, brakes, bearings, and suspension. Together, they carry its weight, keep it stable, and help it stop. Load limits and torque specifications depend on the equipment, as do service intervals. Follow the instructions for the installed RV and its chassis, axle, wheels, and tires.
Check tire pressure when the tires are cold. Use the cold-pressure guidance for the RV’s actual load and tire setup, including the tire maker’s load-and-inflation tables when they apply. The maximum pressure molded into a tire sidewall is not automatically the correct operating pressure. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s tire guidance explains tire labels and basic tire care.
Inspect the tread and sidewalls for cuts or bulges. Look for cracking, embedded objects, and uneven wear as well. Check the spare and valve stems, and read each tire’s date code. Follow the tire maker’s instructions for damage, tread depth, and age-related replacement. RV tires do not have one universal tread-depth limit or replacement age.
Persistent pulling, vibration, unusual wheel heat, or changed braking needs inspection. A problem in one part of the running gear can produce symptoms elsewhere.
Check wheels and brakes
Before travel, inspect the wheels and visible fasteners. A visual check does not verify wheel-fastener torque. Use the torque specification, tightening sequence, and recheck interval for the installed wheel and fasteners. Consult the RV, chassis, axle, or wheel manufacturer’s instructions.
Have brakes, bearings, and suspension inspected and serviced at the intervals set by the axle or chassis manufacturer. For trailers with Dexter axles, Dexter’s maintenance schedule lists checks by component and mileage.
Limit owner work to visual inspections and tasks specifically directed by the manual. Arrange qualified service if uneven wear persists. Pulling, wheel heat, vibration, or changes in braking also warrant service. Brake, bearing, and suspension repairs can require lifting the RV and opening safety-critical parts. Do not assume the RV has adjustable alignment.
Check for open safety recalls by entering the vehicle identification number in NHTSA’s recall database. Follow the manufacturer’s remedy instructions when a recall applies.
Why visual checks have limits
A walk-around can spot a damaged tire or leaking hub seal before a trip, but it cannot identify every brake or bearing fault. Have a qualified shop inspect persistent symptoms before traveling.
RV maintenance checklist
- Follow the manuals: Use the schedules for the RV, chassis, tires, axles, and installed equipment. Adjust for mileage, use, climate, and storage.
- Inspect before travel and during use: Check cold tire pressure, the hitch, and lights. Look for signs of leaks, damaged seals, unusual wear, or loose connections.
- Protect the RV in storage: Dry and prepare the RV, protect batteries and tanks, close propane, and winterize plumbing before freezing weather as the manuals direct.
- Keep records and use qualified service: Log mileage, findings, and repairs. Check recalls by vehicle identification number, and use professional service for brake, bearing, suspension, and other safety-critical work.
FAQ
How often should I service my RV?
Follow the schedules in the RV, chassis, axle, tire, and appliance manuals. Intervals vary by model, component, mileage, climate, and use. General checklists do not replace the manufacturers’ schedules.
How do I check the tires before a trip?
Measure pressure when the tires are cold, using the RV tire placard or the tire manufacturer’s load-and-inflation guidance for your setup. Inspect the tread, sidewalls, valve stems, and spare for damage or unusual wear. Have a tire professional assess bulges, deep cracks, or persistent uneven wear.
What should I do if I find a roof or window leak?
Find and repair the water-entry point promptly, using sealants and repair methods approved by the RV manufacturer. Check nearby walls, cabinets, and flooring for dampness or discoloration. Persistent leaks or soft, damaged material need professional assessment because moisture can harm structural materials.
How do I winterize an RV?
Use the winterizing procedure specified for your RV and its water system. Depending on the design, the procedure uses RV plumbing antifreeze or compressed air. Never use automotive antifreeze in freshwater plumbing because it can contaminate tanks and lines.
Can I do RV maintenance myself?
Owners can perform visual checks and keep records. They can also handle tasks the manuals permit, including checking for leaks and inspecting tires. Use a qualified technician unless you have the required training and tools. This applies to work that involves lifting the RV or opening sealed components, as well as servicing brakes, bearings, propane equipment, or other safety-critical parts.
Does a motorhome need different maintenance from a travel trailer?
Yes. A motorhome has an engine and vehicle chassis that require service under their manufacturers’ schedules, in addition to RV living systems and appliances. A towable RV has no motorhome engine, but its axles, brakes, bearings, tires, hitch, and towing connections still need inspection and service.
What if I find a loose wheel fastener or a brake problem before driving?
Do not tow or drive until the issue has been checked and corrected. Use the wheel or axle manufacturer’s torque specification and procedure. If you cannot verify the repair, contact a qualified service shop.
How should I prepare an RV for storage?
Follow the manuals for the RV, appliances, batteries, and plumbing, with added protection when freezing weather is expected. Before storage, repair leaks and damaged seals, secure doors and exterior equipment, and record repairs or service due before the next trip.